Monday, 30 August 2010

Always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus-Christ to God the Father - ( Eph 5:20) Gratitude and joy seal God's purpose in me

In times of difficulty - as we all experience - God's presence, the "Christ"-presence, may seem far away. Yet the Father never leaves you. He longs to help His child who is in trouble, but you must acknowledge Him, and there is no more direct way of doing it than simply to feel gratitude. Nothing in your predicament may seem to justify thanks, still you feel it.

"Dear Father, in this deep, dark valley I feel alone, yet Your presence abides in me and I thank You for it. Your hand reaching out and I grasp it. All is well. I am filled with joy."

Without darkness we should never know light. Every over-coming fulfils God's purpose in us. Every time we remain firm, insisting that God abides in us regardless of circumstances, we grow in stature as His children. Our gratitude and joy is His gratitude and joy, the surest possible sign that we fulfil our - and His - purpose.

Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the upholder of my life - (Ps 54:4) I allow God passage through my mind and heart

Although the Psalmist seems to recruit God against others, his sentiment remains valid. Persons who seem set against us in life are no different from impersonal difficulties, like sickness, poverty and unhappiness. In each case we turn from these apparitions and behold the One in Whom is all life and all good.

"What is that to you?" asks the Master as universal Son, "Follow me." Learn always to look past your protagonists, be they people or situations, to the Solution that beckons: "My peace I give to you."

Followers of Truth are peacemakers, not because it makes them "good" but because it opens their world to Love. Love is always there but is held at bay by hardened and vindictive minds and hearts. Love, God, expresses through us, and it is our task to let Him through.